Chicago Cubs Reliever Preparing for Injury Rehab at Affiliate

Nick Burdi pitched in just three games for the Chicago Cubs before he had to go to the injured list.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Nick Burdi has made two appearances in Arizona as he attempts to make his way back from an appendectomy that derailed his season in May.

Burdi made his most recent appearance in the Arizona Complex League on Friday. In 1.1 innings of work, he has four hits, two runs (both earned) and a home run. He’s struck out two and walked one.

After his two appearances in Arizona, the Chicago Tribune reported that Burdi will go on a full-fledged injury assignment at an affiliate soon. On Sunday, the Tribune updated the report. Burdi will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa either on Sunday or Tuesday. 

After the appendectomy, the Cubs placed Burdi on the 15-day injured list on May 24, and then transferred him to the 60-day injured list on June 13.

He didn’t get much of a chance to make an impact on the Cubs this season. He made three relief appearances with Chicago from May 16-20, throwing three innings and finishing with a 9.00 ERA. He gave up three hits, three runs and three walks, while striking out four.

Before he was called up to Chicago, he was with Triple-A Iowa, where he made 11 appearances and had a 3.38 ERA in 10.2 innings. He struck out 19 and walked five.

Before joining the Cubs this season, he made 16 MLB appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2018-20, where he went 2-2 with a 9.49 ERA with 23 strikeouts and seven walks.

Burdi missed the 2021 season after his second Tommy John surgery and then was sidelined in 2022 when he needed to have built-up scar tissue surgically removed.

More From SI's Inside The Cubs

1. Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Chicago Cubs?

2. Did David Robertson Net the Cubs a Future Star in Ben Brown?

3. Hoerner is the Cubs Shortstop of the Future

4. Cubs Could Give Canario a Shot in September

5. Could the Cubs Land Trea Turner in the Offseason?

6. Chicago Cubs Have a New Top Prospect in Their Rankings

7. Is This Top Cubs Prospect Destined for the Mound at Wrigley?

8. Steele Offers Glimpse Into Future of Cubs Rotation

9. Do the Chicago Cubs Have the National League's Best Bullpen?